THE MILL ON THE FLOSS

Summary The land and mill are sold to Wakem, who proposes that Tulliver be retained as manager. This is regarded as a reasonable proposition by the aunts and uncles, although Tom protests against it. But when the time comes that Tulliver is able to move out of his room, he […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Book 3: The Downfall: Chapter 8 – Daylight on the Wreck

Summary Mr. Tulliver slowly recovers, but he is unaware of the lapse of time and still imagines himself to be in the “first stage of his misfortunes,” able to find a plan to save the mill. His wife and children hope that uncle Deane’s company may buy the mill and […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Book 3: The Downfall: Chapter 7 – How a Hen Takes to Stratagem

Summary The sale of household goods is finally over. Mrs. Tulliver’s face “seemed aged ten years.” That evening Tom has a visitor, a young man in dirty clothes who identifies himself as Bob Jakin. Bob shows the knife which Tom once gave him, and recalls that “there was niver nobody […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Book 3: The Downfall: Chapter 6 – Tending to Refute the Popular Prejudice against the Present of a Pocket-Knife

Summary Tom goes to see his uncle Deane about a job. He has no definite plan, but he knows he does not “want to save money slowly and retire on a moderate fortune like his uncle Glegg,” but to rise fast like his uncle Deane. Mr. Deane is at the […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Book 3: The Downfall: Chapter 5 – Tom Applies His Knife to the Oyster

Summary Maggie and Mrs. Moss go to Mr. Tulliver’s bed while Tom and Mr. Glegg search for the note in Tulliver’s old oak chest. They take out some papers, but the chest lid falls, and the sound rouses Mr. Tulliver. He asks sharply what is happening. He recognizes his sister […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Book 3: The Downfall: Chapter 4 – A Vanishing Gleam

Summary The next day the aunts and uncles gather for consultation. Mrs. Tulliver, “with a confused impression that it was a great occasion, like a funeral,” makes the house look its best. Mrs. Deane arrives first. Her husband, who is rising in the world, is away on business. She offers […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Book 3: The Downfall: Chapter 3 – The Family Council

Summary When Tom and Maggie arrive home they find “a coarse, dingy man” in the parlor. Tom immediately realizes that this is the bailiff who has come to “sell them up.” Maggie does not recognize him, but is afraid “lest this stranger might have something to do with a change […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Book 3: The Downfall: Chapter 2 – Mrs. Tulliver’s Teraphim, or Household Gods

Summary When he learns that the suit is lost, Tulliver casts about for some way to avoid looking like a ruined man. He hopes to find someone to buy the mill and take him on as a tenant. “The really vexatious business” is that he has given a bill of […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Book 3: The Downfall: Chapter 1 – What Had Happened at Home

Summary Tom goes on at King’s Lorton until his fifth half-year, while Maggie is sent to a girls’ boarding school with Lucy. She does meet Philip once on the street, but she is by then too much a young lady to honor her promise to kiss him. Once their father’s […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Book 2: School-Time: Chapter 7 – The Golden Gates Are Passed

Summary Tom “bore his severe pain heroically,” but he dares not ask whether he will be lame. Philip is the only one who anticipates this fear, and pity makes him forgive Tom. He learns from Mr. Stelling that the injury is not permanent and brings the good news to Tom. […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Book 2: School-Time: Chapter 6 – A Love-Scene